Awning-frame.



J. WQRIGHARDS.

AWNING FRAME.

APPLIULTION FILED JULY 22, 1908.

909, 1 1 Patented Jan. 5, 1909.

nl: NcR/s Pr1sres co4, WASHINGTON, n. 1,

UNITED sTATns ,PATENT OFFICE.

' 4.Joint w. siemens, orMUsoA'rrNE, Iowa.

AWNINGLFBAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented `Jan. 5, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, JOHN W. RICHARDS, of

Muscatine, in the county of Muscatine and4 `State of Iowa, have inventedcertainnew and consists in novel foldable awning supporting frames`which can be arranged above theawning roll and will automaticallydistend the awning sheet as -it is unwound from the roll and will holdit in extended position; and which can be closed by the pull oftheawning sheet as itis rewoundon the roll.

A further object of the invention is lto 4so construct theframes thatthey can be located above the awning roll and above the cornices of thewindows of stores or buildings to which the awning is connected, theawning being i ractically suspended by the frames insteafF-of upheldthereby, and the awning frames can be above the awning and out of theway at `all times and are especially adapted for use over display wineows of stores, as the frames will not obstruct `the view of the windowsnor bein the way of persons passing along the sidewalk.

The invention is particularly applicable to stores which have all glassfronts and where there is no place below the cornices or tops of thewindow frames for attachment of the ordinary awning su orts.

The invention willpbe clearly understood from the following description1n connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 `is aperspective view of one of the awning frames shown supporting the awningextended. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the frame partlydistended, in full lines, and folded, in dotted lines; and Fig. 3 `is adetail-sectional viewon line 3-3, of Fig. 2.

The awning sup ort comprises two similar extensible and fo dable framesone at each end of the awning and constructed `alike so that thedescription of one will describe and explain both. Each frame comprisesa main member or lever 1 which is hinged at 1 a to a wall bracket 8secured to the wall of the building to which the awning is to beattached, and above the awning roll It.

Io the lever 1, near the outer end thereof,

pending l is pivoted, at 6a, one end of a hanger bar 6, to the lower endof which is fastenedone'end of the `awning pole P, to which the outerside of the awning sheet S lis attached. The pole P is attached to andbetween the lower or free ends of the bars', of the two Vframes, and issupported thereby. To lever 1, at 4a -point intermediate the pivots 111and 6"L is pivoted, at 2a, a brace lever 2. And to the outer end oflever 2 `is pivoted, at 2, a slide 2b, which slidably engages the barf,which can lfreely move through said slide. To `the main lever lyadjacent bracket 8, is pivoted, itt-4a, a link 4, the lower end of whic`is connected -by a pivot L1b to one end of a link 3 the otherend ofwhich is pivoted, at 3a, `to lever 2, `intermediate the slide 2b andivot 2. To pivot 4b is also connected the lower end Vof la susrod 5, theupperend of which is piv oted, at 5 a, to `abracket 8 a attached to thewall abovelthe bracketS. The links 3 andlforma toggle-lever which willbe ldistenoled bythe lowering of lever 1, and willforce brace lever 2`to swingoutward andupward towardlever `1; and brace 2 `willin turncause hanger bar 6 to swing outward and upward.

The frame operates much-after the fmanner ofa lazy tongs, beingdistended bythe action of the toggle-lever 3*4 when main lever 1 islowered, and folding when main lever 1 is drawn upward. A weight 7 isplaced upon the outer end of lever 1, beyond the pivot 6, and thisweight is vsufficient to cause the distension of the frame, as theawning is unwound from the roll R. The weight V7 4is preferably slottedfor the passage of lever 1 `and is secured thereon in any desiredposition by means of set-screw 7 a. A guard plate 9 is attached to lever1 as shown, and extends from a point adjacent pivot 4 `to a 'point:adjacent pivot 2a. This guard helps to keep levers 1 and rodin contactVand also limits the swing of rod 5 and prevents it passing beyond thepivots 4a or 2a as the awning is lowered or raised and thus locking theframe. The roll R, to which the inner end of the awning sheet isattached as usual, is preferably operated as described in my Patent#602,772, but any suitable means may be used for rolling and unrollingthe awning. When the awning is unrolled the weights 7 cause levers 1 toswing downward and, through the action of the toggle levers, the lowerends of bars 6 are caused to swing outward and thus spread the awning'as fast as uit is unrolled.

Fig. 2 shows in full lines, the osition of the parts when the awning ispart y opened, and in dotted lines, the position of the parts when theawning is rolled up. As the awning is rolled up it draws pole P towardroll R and thus closes the frames. It will be observed that in thepresent instance the frames are or may be arranged entirely above theawning roll; and they can be arranged, if de sired, above the cornicesof the windows or doors of the building to which the awning is attached,and thus the frames are entirely out of the way and do not obstruct theview beneath the awnings, nor the passageway thereunder. The arts are soarranged that as the awning is clidsed the pole P rises as it recedes,so that the passageway is not obstructed either during the raising orlowering of the awning. If desired, the members of the frames may be ofiron, but the particular lcross-section of the iron used is notmaterial,

provided it does not interfere with the relative swinging movements ofthe members.

I have not attempted in the drawings to show the exact relativeproportions of the parts as these will be varied according to the weightand spread ofthe awning. The same frames can be used for diderentspreads of awnings up to the maximum spread, and the weights 7 can beadjusted so as to cause the awning frames to open automaticallyaccording to the spread of the awning. lf a 7 ft. spread is desired theweights can be moved back toward the pivots 6a, and that will reduce theforce or pressure on the main lever; and by shifting the weights outtoward the ends of levers l, they will spread the frames suiliciently tostretch the sheet for a 10 ft. spread. The frames are substantiallyautomatic in action and will open of their own accord as fast as theawning sheet is unrolled, and will hold the awning in spread position.

The hames are under perfect control at all times by means of the roll R,and will close up against the building when the awning is rolled up, asindicated in dotted lines Fig. 2.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. A foldable awning frame comprising a main lever pivotally connectedto the wall at one end, a hanger bar pivoted to said lever, a togglecomprising two links one of which is pivotally connected to the mainlever adjacent the wall pivot, a connection between the othertoggle-link and the hanger bar, and a suspending rod pivotally connectedto the wall and to the joint of the toggle, substantially as described.

2. An awning frame comprising a main lever pivotally connected to thewall at one end, a hanger bar pivoted to said lever, a toggle comprisingtwo links one of which is pivotally connected to the main lever adjacentthe wall pivot, a connection between the otherv toggle-link and thehangerbar, and a supporting rod pivotally connected to the wall andtothe joint of the toggle; in combination with an awning roll, an awningsheet, and an awning pole connected to said sheet and to the free end ofthe hanger bar.

3. An awning frame comprising a main lever pivoted at one end, a hangerbar pivotally suspended from the main lever, a brace pivoted to saidmain lever, a slidable connection between the free end of said brace andsaid hanger bar, a toggle connection between the main lever and saidbrace, and a swinging sulpport connected with the pivot of said togg e.

4. An awning support comprising a main lever pivoted to the wall at oneend, a hanger bar pivotally suspended from the main lever near its outerend, a weight on the outer end of the main lever, a brace ivoted to saidmain lever, a slidable connection between the free end of said brace andsaid hanger bar, a toggle connection between the main lever and saidbrace, and a swinging sup ort connected with the wall and the pivot osaid toggle.

5. An awning supporting frame comprising a main lever pivoted at oneend, a hanger bar pivotally suspended from the main lever near its outerend, a brace pivoted to said main lever, a slidable connection betweenthe free end of said brace and said hanger bar, a toggle connectionbetween the lnain lever and said brace, and a suspending rod pivotallyconnected to the wall above the main lever pivot, and pivotallyconnected with the knuckle of the toggle.

6. An awning supporting frame comprising a main lever pivoted to thewall at one end, a hanger bar pivotally suspended from the main levernear its outer end, a brace pivoted to said main lever, a slidableconnection between the free end of said brace and said hanger bar, atoggle connection between the main lever and said brace, a weightconnected with the outer end of said main lever, a suspending rodpivotally connected to the wall above the main lever ivot and pivotallyconnected with the knuckll of the toggle, and a guard connected with themain ever for limiting the swinging movement of the suspending rod.

7. 1n combination, a pair of frames each comprising a main lever pivotedto the wall at one end, a hanger bar pivotally suspended from the mainlever near its outer end, a brace pivoted to said main lever, a slidableconnection between the free end of said brace and said hanger bar, atoggle connection between the main lever and said brace and a swingingsupport connected with the wall and the pivot of said toggle; with apole connected to the free ends of the hanger bar.

8. In combination, a pair of frames, each comprising a main leverpivoted to the wall at one end, a hanger bar pivotally suspended fromthe main lever near its outer end, e brace l pivoted to seid main lever,a. slidable connection between the free end of said brace and saidhanger bar, a toggle connection between the main lever and said brace,a. weight adjustably connected With the outer end of said main lever,and a. suspending rod pivotally connected to the wall above the mainlever vot and pivotally connected with the {nuckle of the tog le; with apole connected to the said hanger ars, an awning sheet coni nected withsaid Pole, and an awnin roll connected with seid sheet, saitgi take-uproll being arranged below the sai frames.

In testimony thet I claim the foregoing as my own, I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. RICHARDS. Witnesses:

J. L. THOMPSON, 1 GEO. H. WILLs.

